Making Money on Ebay

genchan · #1 (**permalink**) 05-12-2005, 08:34 PM

Does anyone make a good amount of money on Ebay? I'm not talking about selling a few things here and there. I mean a few thousand dollars a month. People that make this kind of money, what do they sell?

mom-from-missouri · #2 (**permalink**) 05-12-2005, 09:29 PM

A friend of mine did that. She bought things wholesale and resold them on ebay. Took a lot of storage room and a lot of time, but she was her own boss.

jmjj215 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-13-2005, 06:25 AM

It needs to be pretty much a full-time job if you're looking to profit a few thousand per month. It's certainly not passive!

Tree0164 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-14-2005, 02:10 AM

I keep hearng ebay fees are really hurting people who use to make a living. No other auction site gets the volume that ebay does. There is www.mompackauctions.com which does some business but not nearly what ebay does.

terry1156 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-14-2005, 05:12 PM

It can be done, but the people that seem to do the best are those that specialize in a certain collectible. Trying to compete with large companies on glamor items like computers or electronic gadgets is a no win situation. Find a collectible hobby (one that you already enjoy) and focus on that.

momma4 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-29-2005, 01:27 AM

A friend of mine was doing it awhile ago. She was making between $500-$1000+ a month and she just went Garage saling for her items. She just put them in their own room in her house. I ebay myself but I don't make anywhere near that my most active month I make $150 and that was only cost I sold a collectable and a bunch of things here and there. I am just bored with it right now I see ebay for me as more of a hobby and a place to make a quick buck.

paulmish · #7 (**permalink**) 05-30-2005, 05:06 PM

Hi all - just another 2 cents:

I got tired of wearing "good" jewelry all the time (not that I have a vault of it...) and I fell in love with fashion jewelry. I started an Ebay store, and I followed a very specific business plan (I have a business degree and a math/education degree). I gave it 9 months, and I tried EVERYTHING. I got nothing but glowing feedback, because the prices were so artifically low, that people were getting awesome jewely for about 1/3 of the value. When I closed my store, I had alot of disappointed customers emailing me - I didn't have the heart to tell them that I wasn't a charitable foundation. In the end, I was in the RED $400. I started doing bazaars, and made over $500 from the first 2 shows combined. After that I was in the black. I cleared about $700 last year with very little time invested. And that was only in three months. I hope to clear $1500 this year - depending on the numbers of shows, it could be much more. I'm trying to start doing home parties, but I have NO spare time, so maybe in a few months or so, I'll concentrate on that.

My opinion of Ebay is that alot of people try it, lose money, and quit. In the meantime, these people keep cheap prices alive. Kind of Darwinian, huh?

BillsGirl · #8 (**permalink**) 05-31-2005, 07:42 AM

I mainly focus on shoes, i try too see whats hot on ebay and go to outlet stores and tried to find the popular shoes on sale, I do not make a huge huge profit i always get my money back with a return some larger some smaller, I would never say I could do this as a living ebay fees are ridivulous but I more or less do it because it's fun and keeps me busy!

jeffrey · #9 (**permalink**) 05-31-2005, 08:23 AM

It's possible - I do it full time in addition to running the sites and make enough to live comfortably. Then again, I have been able to find a niche where there is limited competition which makes it a lot easier to succeed.

niki_the_tiger · #10 (**permalink**) 06-19-2005, 07:54 PM

I have been selling on Ebay off and on for the past few years... I would make pretty good money if it weren't for the fact that Ebay and Paypal fees take a HUGE chunk of my profits!! I get discouraged and stopped selling, then after trying to find a job that pays more than minimum wage (and failing), I start back again... because I do get more working 5hrs a week from home then I would 25 hrs at a job around my area.

It is very tricky though, because you have to offer your items for such a low, low price that you make very little profit per item. I usually come away with a small profit though.

Garage sales, clearance racks, outlet stores... that's where to buy items to resell... or buying in bulk from wholesalers.

momma4 · #11 (**permalink**) 06-19-2005, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niki_the_tiger

I have been selling on Ebay off and on for the past few years... I would make pretty good money if it weren't for the fact that Ebay and Paypal fees take a HUGE chunk of my profits!! I get discouraged and stopped selling, then after trying to find a job that pays more than minimum wage (and failing), I start back again... because I do get more working 5hrs a week from home then I would 25 hrs at a job around my area.

It is very tricky though, because you have to offer your items for such a low, low price that you make very little profit per item. I usually come away with a small profit though.

Garage sales, clearance racks, outlet stores... that's where to buy items to resell... or buying in bulk from wholesalers.

I add in ebay costs and paypal fees to my shipping and handling.

niki_the_tiger · #12 (**permalink**) 06-19-2005, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momma4

I add in ebay costs and paypal fees to my shipping and handling.

I have tried that as well, but what makes it difficult is that shipping already costs so much that people are a bit hesitant to buy the item... when what they are buying costs only $10-20 and they have to pay $10 for shipping the item cuz it's heavy plus I need to add a couple of dollars for fees...

momma4 · #13 (**permalink**) 06-19-2005, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niki_the_tiger

I have tried that as well, but what makes it difficult is that shipping already costs so much that people are a bit hesitant to buy the item... when what they are buying costs only $10-20 and they have to pay $10 for shipping the item cuz it's heavy plus I need to add a couple of dollars for fees...

what about starting your cost out at what you want then adding your costs by estimating? you might loose out alittle bit but you will get some of your fees paid. Oh and look into flat rate packaging for priority mail they have a good deal if you have small items but they are heavy. Like their flat rate boxes they are 11" X 8.5" X 5.5" (small sq box) or 12" X 3.5" X 14" (rectangular box but thin) they are $7.70 or the flat rate envelope is $3.85 and if you are able to fit the item in one of those you can put in your fees that way too. Just a thought if the item(s) are heavy.

jeffrey · #14 (**permalink**) 06-19-2005, 10:22 PM

Learn a collectible market...it's worth the 20 to 40 hours it takes to study and learn the basics. Once you learn a collectible market you should be able to double your profit since there is a lot less competition and collectors are willing to pay much more than for items they can get at any store. I started out trying to make $5 profit per auction after all expenses and slowly moved into collectibles because that was where the money was - now I shoot for a profit of $25+ per item.

niki_the_tiger · #15 (**permalink**) 06-20-2005, 06:34 AM

I would not know where to start with a collectible market.

As for Flat rate boxes, I discovered those earlier this year, that was a good move. However, most of the items I sell are bigger than that (I sell mostly bedding supplies), so I cannot use them.

I just ordered a new batch of items - this time around I will keep track of everything to see if I am making a profit and how much. It will also enable me to see where I can make improvements and how I can incorporate fees so that they are not eating away at my profits.

gakline · #16 (**permalink**) 06-20-2005, 07:13 AM

Jeffrey - What's your niche?

Bluezy · #17 (**permalink**) 06-21-2005, 06:42 AM

I didn't do as well on EBay. Where I made money was selling my books on Amazon.com.

There were no listing fees on Amazon, and they credit you to help towards shipping. They take selling fees out at the time of purchase, and all profits can be direct deposited into your checking account.

Please note: Selling books on Amazon that are under $5.00 USD do not produce profits. My books from medical school made the most, with speciality books of Native Cultures running a close second.

Hope this helps. Cheers!

Bluezy

gakline · #18 (**permalink**) 06-21-2005, 08:57 AM

I recently sold many CDs on Amazon. I set my limit at $1. I made quite a few bucks getting rid of stuff I rarely listen to. I made the most on a cd for soundtracks and imports.

I did sell some books, but they were not as hot of a selling item.

niki_the_tiger · #19 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 06:51 AM

My friend gave me a bunch of books she did not want anymore. I knew I could not get much more than $1-2 for them, so I decided to list them on half.ebay.com. I have sold a few of them, and they too credit you for shipping. And the feedback from them helps with my Ebay feedback as well

The only problem I have with half.ebay.com is that when you confirm an item, you only have one business day to send it out... sometimes that is just about impossible!

34saving · #20 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 08:51 AM

Half does give you ?3? days to confirm. So, that helps with the scheduling.